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Excitement ran high among the African communities in Qatar who enthusiastically took part in the Friendship Parade organised by the Qatar Cultural and Heritage Events Center at Aspire Park as part of Qatar National Day celebrations last week.
The African expats started with a parade displaying Qatar’s national flag as well as their own countries’.
The stalls set up by the African communities at the venue as part of the event displayed items that depicted their countries’ cultural heritage. Artworks, carvings, jewellery, besides other craftworks were on display .The exclusive items include beaded ornaments, footwear, baskets, masks, khangas, maasai leso and others which showcased African craftsmanship.
A number of the participants also performed on the stage. They presented songs, dances, skits,
acrobatics, etc. depicting their
traditional heritage.
The countries represented included Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, Ghana, Sudan, Somalia, among others.
Talking about their participation in the parade, South African Ambassador to Qatar HE Faizel Moosa said that the South African people were thankful to be able to live and work in Qatar. “The whole-hearted participation in the Qatar National Day celebrations is our way of reaffirming friendly ties with Qatar and its people in the closing year of 100 years of Nelson Mandela centenary. We want to express our sincere gratitude to the Qatari leadership and the community for hosting South Africans in their country. This is also to congratulate the Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani for showing such leadership in terms of steering Qatar through the blockade by a quartet of Arab countries.”
The envoy compared the efforts and leadership of the Amir to Nelson Mandela’s when he came out of prison after 27 years and was able to deal with the challenges awaiting him and take South Africa forward. “I think that’s how His Highness the Amir has guided the country since the blockade started in June 2017, taken Qatar forward and has shown that Qatar is a leader when it comes to human rights and economic progress of the country.”
The ambassador pointed out that Qatar is progressing fast, and South Africans are benefiting from that progress. “We feel that the benefits accruing to the South Africans in Qatar are because of their work and the role they play in the economy and in different spheres of life here.”
The envoy congratulated Qatar on having a wonderful Doha Forum which was well attended. “I think that was an important statement the world made in terms of Qatar in the role it plays internationally-very positive role and a very positive message came out of there.”
The ambassador greeted Qatari leadership and the people on the National Day which he described as a very important day in the life of any nation. “It brings the nation together and galvanises it to march forward,” the envoy said
Yvonne Kadir from the Kenyan community’s Green Maasai Troupe said that it was an honour to take part in the parade. A number of Kenyans took part in the parade and stage performances. They presented songs such as kiti kiti, jambo Kenya, among others. “It’s a great opportunity for us and we are grateful to have been invited to participate in the Qatar National Day celebrations. It’s a great opportunity for the Green Maasai Troupe. It was a fun day for us.”
She said that the event offered a great opportunity for the group to socialise and interact with other communities. “We enjoyed the songs and dances from other communities. We also had a Kenyan community booth where we had displayed the Kenyan cultural attire like the Maasai shuka, traditional sandals, the beads, necklaces, among others. We also had some dances at the booth just to make people curious and then explain to them about our country Kenya and our heritage as well as the animal parks. It was an opportunity for us to showcase what our country has got to offer.”
The Tanzanian group showcased its prowess through child performers. The group also entertained with a magic show. In addition, they showcased a skit of the popular, ‘Bwana Tumbo Alienda Shamba.’
The African expats started with a parade displaying Qatar’s national flag as well as their own countries’.
The stalls set up by the African communities at the venue as part of the event displayed items that depicted their countries’ cultural heritage. Artworks, carvings, jewellery, besides other craftworks were on display .The exclusive items include beaded ornaments, footwear, baskets, masks, khangas, maasai leso and others which showcased African craftsmanship.
A number of the participants also performed on the stage. They presented songs, dances, skits,
acrobatics, etc. depicting their
traditional heritage.
The countries represented included Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, Ghana, Sudan, Somalia, among others.
Talking about their participation in the parade, South African Ambassador to Qatar HE Faizel Moosa said that the South African people were thankful to be able to live and work in Qatar. “The whole-hearted participation in the Qatar National Day celebrations is our way of reaffirming friendly ties with Qatar and its people in the closing year of 100 years of Nelson Mandela centenary. We want to express our sincere gratitude to the Qatari leadership and the community for hosting South Africans in their country. This is also to congratulate the Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani for showing such leadership in terms of steering Qatar through the blockade by a quartet of Arab countries.”
The envoy compared the efforts and leadership of the Amir to Nelson Mandela’s when he came out of prison after 27 years and was able to deal with the challenges awaiting him and take South Africa forward. “I think that’s how His Highness the Amir has guided the country since the blockade started in June 2017, taken Qatar forward and has shown that Qatar is a leader when it comes to human rights and economic progress of the country.”
The ambassador pointed out that Qatar is progressing fast, and South Africans are benefiting from that progress. “We feel that the benefits accruing to the South Africans in Qatar are because of their work and the role they play in the economy and in different spheres of life here.”
The envoy congratulated Qatar on having a wonderful Doha Forum which was well attended. “I think that was an important statement the world made in terms of Qatar in the role it plays internationally-very positive role and a very positive message came out of there.”
The ambassador greeted Qatari leadership and the people on the National Day which he described as a very important day in the life of any nation. “It brings the nation together and galvanises it to march forward,” the envoy said
Yvonne Kadir from the Kenyan community’s Green Maasai Troupe said that it was an honour to take part in the parade. A number of Kenyans took part in the parade and stage performances. They presented songs such as kiti kiti, jambo Kenya, among others. “It’s a great opportunity for us and we are grateful to have been invited to participate in the Qatar National Day celebrations. It’s a great opportunity for the Green Maasai Troupe. It was a fun day for us.”
She said that the event offered a great opportunity for the group to socialise and interact with other communities. “We enjoyed the songs and dances from other communities. We also had a Kenyan community booth where we had displayed the Kenyan cultural attire like the Maasai shuka, traditional sandals, the beads, necklaces, among others. We also had some dances at the booth just to make people curious and then explain to them about our country Kenya and our heritage as well as the animal parks. It was an opportunity for us to showcase what our country has got to offer.”
The Tanzanian group showcased its prowess through child performers. The group also entertained with a magic show. In addition, they showcased a skit of the popular, ‘Bwana Tumbo Alienda Shamba.’
